knitting machine



Oct. 26, 1943. WILDERS ET AL 2,333.053

KNITTING MACHINE Fi led May 29 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 26, 1943. G. WILDERS ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26, 1943. G. WILDERSQ ET AL KNITTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed May 29 1942 law Oct. 26, 1943. G. WILDERS ET AL KNITTING MACHINE filed May 29, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 1nuentor 6644+ Attor ey 06t- 26, 1943. G, w L ETAL 2,333,063

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 {QUIHIBT J Oct. 26, 1943. G, WILD'ERS E A 2,333,063

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 {nuenhz 3 j gy Oct.26, 1943. G. WILDERS ETAL 2,333,063

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 7.

Altar ey Oct. 26, 1943. e. WILDERS ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 29 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Oct. 26 1943 Lynam,

M pp y,

England,

assignors ,to

William Cotton Limited, Loughborough, England Application May 29, 1942, Serial No. 445,043

In Great Britain April 19,1941 f 19 cla m This invention is for improvements in and relating to knitting machines, and is particularly but not exclusively concernedwith Cottons Patent or other straight bar knitting machines. In such machines it is necessary to effect a temporary reduction of speed during those courses in which fashioningor other transfer operations,

such for example as clocking, are effected; for

convenience in the ensuing description reference is only made to fashioning and to the fashioningv (Clans-2;

course, but it is to be understood that these ex- "pressions are employed in abroad sense to include all transfer operations and the courses wherein they occur. If the necessary speed reduction: is

to be effected without delaying the knitting operations, it must need be effected automatically and exceedingly rapidly, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means for effecting such speed variation It is a further object of the invention to provide means for effecting speed variation both manually and automatically. A still'further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically effectand (0) reduction to a speed lower than-either (a) or (b); and, after each reduction, a return tothe speed setby the manual control. The invention further includes in error a knitting ma chine, particularly a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting "machine, speed regulating apparatus comprising 3 a 3 speed varying device, a

manual control for controlling it to determine or set the speed, and automatic control means for controlling it to give at least two different temporary speed reductions fromthe speed 'set by the manual controlj By the expression manual mg a plurality of speed variations and, as hereinafter appears,' in its preferred form [the apparatus according to thisinvention makes provision for the following: (1) an infinitely-variable speed control by hand; (2) an automatic'reduction in speed forone course'for fashioning and a return to the speed originally obtaining;"(3) an automatic speed reduction for a given number of courses and a return to the speed originally prevailing, which reduction may be forthe purposes of plating and which reduced speed is preferably the same as the fashioning speed; (4)

an automatic reduction toa particularly low speed (necessary to permit of automaticf rnove ments, such for example as Welt turning and carrier changing) and 'a return to the original high speed;- (5)' an automatic; stoppage of the driving motor or an interruption of the drive at 'a predetermined point in time, as for example at the completion of a stocking blank.

As viewed from oneaspect this invention pro vides in or for a knitting machine, particularly a Cottons patent orother straight bar knitting machine, speed regulating apparatus comprising a speed controlling member movable to effect progressive speed variation, a manual control for moving said member to procure the desired speed (c. g., forsnormal-working) and automatic controlmeans for movin'g said member without interference, with the manual fcontrol to effect (a) speed reduction for one coursegtb speed re- 'duction for a predetermined plurality of courses,

control there is to be understood a control adapted to be operated by th'e attendant', and the expression is not strictly-limited to 1 a control adapted for operation by hand. By the expression automatic control means there is meant control means which isadapted to be operated automatically from the fmachine itself .atthe appropriate times, for example by means of a chain or other patterning device;

*I'lrdau'tomatic control means is preferably i constructed as" a unit capable of assemblYseparate fromthe main part of the machine and of attachment in unit form to said machine; the manual control being-thereuponconnected to a suitable operating member, such forexam'ple as ''the power rod in thecase of a C'bttonspatent levation thereofgprtly in section;

machine, and the automatic control means being connected to the chain'or other device whereby its operations are timed. I

The invention 'is particularly" but'not exclusively applicable to amachinewhich'is driven by an alternating current variable-speedshunt motor having 'eitherthe brush gear movable to effect speed" variation or'havinga fixed: brush gear and a separate induction regulator by rotation of which'the speed of the motor is controlled. Alternatively a variable speed gear may be interposed between the motor and the working parts "of'themachine to effect the'n'ecessaryspeed variation. l. r4.

The foregoing and other features of. theinvention set out in the appended claims 'a'rexincorporated in the construction'whichwfll now=be described, as an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which. i Figures l and 2 together constitu tea" rear 'elevation of the" apparatus; i

gures 3 and 4 togethenconstitute .an end Figure 5 is a rear elevation'of 'a'portion thereof,

on a largerscale and partly in section} Figure 6 is 55 r v aplan of the mechanism shown in soft-he quadrant-z nplungers nz,-ti.,a;qne i cr en a em n i. worm 35, 37, which plungers 42, 43 are connected. I

In the illustrated construction according to this invention applicable'to Cottons patent or other straightjbar "knitting machine, an alternating current variable speedinotonlll, Figs. 1 and'S,

having a variable brush commutator (the speed I varying device aforesaid) is employed, which corn- 'mutator is rotated by means of a pinion =l; driven by a quadrant I2 biased in a sp ed-increasing direction (i. e., a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig; 3, the biasing means](notshowrQ-"biit Ydesirably a spring) preferably acting on pinion II. This quadrant l2 constitutes the speedcontrolling member aforesaid; The toothedmxt. of the quadrant is located above its pivot =I:2a',"and 1 below its pivot the quadrant I2 is providedwith an arm I3 to which there is pivoted at l dwas'leeve 7 J14 slidah transfixed. y a pus nandm rod t w-a l ve 16 fi ed on a 41 f h aut mat c iconrockine contro that trol asaid l v L6 ein itself connectedin suitable mechan m ;l.8-::2 .to1 hep Wer;-'r d .54 9 :t e machine. 1 .131. 1. 5? Way Of this u h-ans zpul wrod lfi t at vthe;sm dofthe m ch e. is; et ma lual y -.('by .adiustment f thep wer o 1 .i E-h sleeve A114 is accommodat d :on the b sh andul rea m andlo atedr yan adjustab stwcmcl- V 71.93112;5,on iherod,ylfiandistbiased by the-aforesaid bi s nsq n nto Contact w t he s opf canonly beiefiected when accompanied gr -(gauged r byrmoveme of theipowe rod 24 bu that Wha lever :the setting-0f the power rod 24,. .movernent can :be effectedwithout further movement of said .powerrodih' The quadrant ,tis alsoylrioytable "al hornet frjom jtheautomatic :cQHtrOlyunit; Above,- its w .lzathe quadrant l2 hasanothersle ve fiiii sp d toit at Man-which second sleeve 26 snqah braces iaeloneer'sleeve 12:1 which in turn s embraces s.a:=s econd zpush'iand-pull rod 2 8 ibetween 'anadjustablestopuZil-and a slidable collar 3?, net

:isurged against the end-ofasleeye 2;! by a cornpres'sion spring 33 encirclin the re between slidable Conant!) and a other adjustab e step 59- This second rod 28'is pivoted to; the uppe end "Gfl a speed-control lever- 3.! mounted on and -secured atO :ashaft ;.3v2;i,parallel to the aforesaid rookshaft 1| 5". iThecOmpressiqngspringjM urges adjustments inspeedare effected.

Above the second shaft: .32 there is a m l s 4 aashort auxiliary cam shaft 35 which ;is driven {shown in-;;;E'i g .;5 eachqc-onveniently of a single iturn. Between the; said zwolfm z 35,1 111 s cam 38 which'ma-y be termedan automatl stop switch timin cam l ndfa l th end. o the a a cam shaft 35 .Slidhi R uides .41 vfor m vem ntwlenethw e o ,e. 'a f the 11 131 2 This bloc A07 ca es tw thespeed-reducin di ec ion-li "to the adjustable stop-V29 on thesaid-rod 3g and acts as a sh'QQ .absorber. f {It-is by way of this second push-gand-pull' rod 28--;that ;all automatic liary by a'lever 44, 46, pivoted at 45 and positioned by spring loaded plunger 15 so that when one plunger is lowered into engagement with one worm the other is raised from engagement with 5 the other Worm and vice versa. These plungers 42, 43 are controlled through a suitable control lro'dfi'lgand other 3 8 '(s' e'e Fig. 7) from the chain of the machine, it being'seen that the rod 4'! is biased to the right by return spring 73 and carries two spaced tappet, members 48 be- ;;tween which anend of lever 46 is located. The sliding"block 48 is connected by a link 49 to a :bell-cranli-lever ififl rhaving a tappet end which "bears a ainst't-he upper end of the speed-control 'leve'r 3'1"a fores'aid. Therefore when one plunger is engaged with a worm and the block traverses inone direction (to the left in Figs. 2', 5 and 6 tandQdownzwards into the plane of the paper as viewed in Fig. 4), the speed-control lever 3! is moved in a speed-reducing direction, and when --th other trimester is en a e th et u the bl kitr wa in the revers terfii perm tte ea in d e h t the spee g h athe time iznritl il v either end e its .-W@.r I

.1 .effcq then th t ace vu ed, speed b 1 a "p clerly 19W s e d. innlfil -tc rmit auto- .mati; m vements $1191 cr esa nl ias iwel urnieeran carri r izhane e tofta ge place. .Thecuse swar s a cf tinstbi c ed-d cnea -a lt r. treesac flease -Qsi mes Met-mimics ism-s red 513; o .Y ne e the two qrls arms 5;?? acolla 11 ad us m fixed mines v d E rlsar i- "matur c tivclvntcth i eit. h nts, cam 39 but issea eel news e.

thrpus s rin 0 A hen an is el e ter ne be ween antenna i la para- 9: d h t r a. lessee? due ori e ehr r i, cgyrses o plating, the v h t.

stood that cam 39 is adapted'todisplace lever 3|, towa less, extent thandoes the worm-operated sliding block and, lever 56); The first patterning mechanism may be the chain ofthe machine. In order to provide for the speed -reduction for a predetermined plurality of courses for plating or for one or more courses 'of fashioning, a catch 55 is provided which, after the speed-control lever. 3|, has been rocked by the fashioning cam'39 to effect the speed reduction, engages-a short'arm 56 on shaft 32 and prevents the return (of said lever 3| until such time as said catch 55 is released; The saidcatch '55 is applied, by the second control rod 54, through-a tension spring 51 extending .between an end of the said catch and a part of member 59 on rod 54 but isreleased positively only after the truck 5| has reached the highest point of "the cam 39. The arrangement is such that movement of thesecond control rod 54 to the left (Figs. 7- and 8)' to shog the truck v5| into register withthe fashioning cam 39 loads the spring 51,

closed. Additionally .this movement serves to replace the trip or catch 62 ina position in which it holds the cam lever 58 out of engagement with the timing cam 38. Tothis end, finger .64 shogs a short rod 65 guided in a lug on finger 60 and having a collar 66 thereon, which collar rocks catch lever 63 out ofengagement with catch 62.

There is also a manually operable stop switch 82which for convenience is referred to as the main switch. This main switch has a switch operating roller 61 which is oppositely arranged to the stop switch roller.v That is to say it is spring biased to move in the same direction as said stop switch roller but, upon such movement, to cause the switch to make contact. This main switch roller is engaged-by a finger 68 fixed on the rock shaft l1 and is therefore controlled. by the power rod. I l l l From" the foregoing description it will be appreciated that when theupowerrod 24.is in one of its extreme positions the main stop switch is so'that when the speed-control lever 3| is displaced-by the cam 39'the catch 55 springs into its engaged position. Thismovement brings an abutment 55a associated with the catch 55 into contact with a stop-face 59a of member 59 so that whenthe rod 54 is moved in the reverse direction (to remove the truck 5| from register with the cam 39) the catch 55 is released as just described. "The plating and'fashioning speeds ,are not necessarily the same. Twocams may be provided, giving different speeds for fashioning and for plating, and the truck may be shogged'into registenwith either of them. i

The automatiq stop switch timing cam 38 (Figs. 4 and 5 co-operates with a cam lever'58, Figs. 4, 5 and 7, freely mounted on the rock shaft 32 and connected by an adjustable push rod 5%,

' Figs. 2, 3 and 8, to a rocking finger 60 which is freely mounted on the rock shaft l1 and cooperates with a stop switch roller 6| capable of depression to close the contacts of an automatic stop switch 8|. There is a catch 62; Figs. "'1 and 8, which is pivoted on a fixed part ofthe ber 14 secured to said rod. The stop switch roller 6| is biased in the contact-breaking direction and therefore as soon as the catch or trip- 62.

is released the cam lever 58 makes contact with the aforesaid timing cam 38 and, at an appropriate' stage in the rotation of the latter, will descend a flank of said cam and the switch will break. .The firstcontrol rod 41 moves in two steps. The first step operates the plungers 42, "43; the second trips theaforesaid catch 62.

The automatic stop switch is useful in stopping the machine automatically after the completion of a series of operations, as for example after the completion of an article such as a stocking blank. p

'1This*autbmatic switch is re-set by means of the power rod 24. To thisend on the rock shaft |1there is a re-setting finger 64 which, upon "the final movement of the said rock shaft inthe ofldirebtion, displaces the rocking finger '60 by means" of tappet 64")and the said switch roller 6| so that the stop'switch contacts are broken. Initial movement from. this extreme position rotates the rock shaft l1 and (operating through finger. 68) causes the main switch 82 to closeso that the machine starts up at its lowest speed. Further rotation of therock shaft 1 1 permits the quadrant l2 to. rotate in. a speed-increasing direction so that the machine speeds up. This movement of the quadrant is of course effected under the bias applied tothe pinion ii and its extent is determined by the extent to which the power rod is moved manually; the sleeve i4 remains in contact with stops 25; so thatsubsequent movement of the powerarod in the reverse direction would result in movement of the quadrant l2 inthe speed decreasing direction, but the sleeve 26 moves along sleeve 2.1 as

far as the buffer stop 36 so as to permit subsequent automatic speed-reducing movements of the quadrant to be effected by the automatic control unit operating through rod 28. On move ment of the power rod in.reversedirection towards the aforesaidextreme position thecuadrant is rotated through rod l5 and themachine is slowed down and eventually, upon reaching said extreme position, the main switch is broken so that the machine is stopped.

; It will be seen that the automatic control mechanism, other than certain. of the connections between rock shaft I1 and the power rod 24 and connections foroperating the control rods 41' l and 54 from the main and other patterning mechanism, is constructed as a complete unit or subassembly capable of being attached as such to the knitting machine and of being connected by rods|5 and 28 to the speed-controlling member (1. e., quadrant l2) of the speed varying device. The frame of the said unit comprises connected brackets 16, arranged to be bolted or otherwise attached to a suitable part of the machine frame such as the member indicatedat 11 and supporting interconnected side frame members 18. This frame affords support for the stop switch 8| and main switch 82, and for a fuse or switch box or the like 83.

We claim:

' l 1. Knitting machine speed-regulating apparatus, particularly suitable for Cottons patent or other straight bar machines, comprising a speedcontroliing member movable to effect progressive speed variation, a'manual control for moving said member to procure the desired speed, and automatic control means for moving said memberwithout interference with the manual control driven'member to driveit'i'n one direction: the

other according to which worm is coupled to it; and coupling means controllable by a patterning device for effecting said alternative coupling.

l 2, Knitting machine speed-regulating apparatus, comprising a speed varying device, a'manual control for controlling it to determine or set the speed, and automatic i control means. for controlling it to give at least two: different temporary speed reductions from the speed set by the manual control, wherein the automatic control means comprises a member movable in one direction. to

effect a speed reduction from that'set. by the manual control and in the reverse direction to restore thespeed to that set; a rotatable..cam for displacing said'member through a predetermined amplitudeto efiect a speed reduction and restoration; a worm-driven membermovable: to

and fro to displace the first said member independently of the cam; two worms rotatable simultaneously with the'cam for aliternative coupling to the worm-driving member to shift it. in

one direction or the otheraccording to which worm it is coupled to: one worm for shifting the worm-driven member in one direction. to: effect and maintain a greater speed-reducing displacement. of the first said member than is: producible by the cam, and another worm for shifting the worm-driven member in the other direction to result in speed.. restoring movement of the first said. member; and coupling means controllable by a patterning. device for effectingisaicl alternative coupling. I

V 3. Knitting machinespeed-regulating apparatus, comprising a speed varying device, a. manual control for controlling it to, determine on set. the speed, and automatic control means. for. controlling; it toig-ive: at least two difierent temporary speed reductions from the; speed set by? the manual control, wherein the: automatic control means comprises a. member movable in one direction to eifect a speed reduction from thatsetbythexman ual control and, in the reverse direction to: restore the speed to that set; a vrotata-bl'e cam for; displacing said member through a predetermined amplitude to. effect a speed: reduction and restoration; a worm-driven member movable to and fro to dispace the firstus'aid' member independently of the cam; two wormsirotatable: simultaneously with thecamior alternative: coupling: to the: worm-drivenmember to shift it. in onedirection orithe other according to which.wormit is coupled to: oneworm forrshii-ting' the worm;-

driven member in one direction to eii eetand maintain a greater speed-reducing displacement of the first said member than is producablei by the cam, and another worm for shifting; thewormdriven member in the other directionv to result in speed restoring movement of the first said member; and coupling means controllable by a patterning device for: efEecti-ngsaid. alternative coupling, combined with acam' follower for the scam-operated; member; and means controllable for determining theoperation ,oisaidcatch, a

'aasaoes by a patterning device. for etecting ai relative shoggingbetween said follower cam to bring theminto and out once-operating register. 4. Knitting machine -speederegulating apparatus,' comprising amember movablein one direc- 'tion to-effect a'speedreduction and in there.- Verse direction ;to restore the speed, .a rotatable cam for displacing. said; member; through .a .predetermined. amplitude topfiect' said. speed reduction and restoration, a catch iorholdingthe said member in its displaced and; speed-eredueing attitude, meansv controllable :byi a; patterning device worm-driven memberrmovable to and fro to displace the first said member independently of the cam, two, worms rotatable simultaneouslywith the camior alternative coupling. to the, wormidriven, member to shift-ruin ,onedire ti n orth other according to which wormflitjiscoupledto: one worm for shiitingsthe wormdriveni member 'inone direction to effect and maintaina. greater speed reducing. displacement of the firstsaid member than is producable by the cam, and another worm for shiiting the worm-driven memher in the other direction toresult in speed re;- storing movementot the first said member;;and coupling means controllable by a .patterning,,- de- Vice: forefiectin said alternative coupling 7 .7 .,1

5. In a knitting machine,--speed-regulating apparatus comprising. combination: a manuallyoperable stop device and an automatically-operable stop device for stopping th machine; ans controllable. by a patterning device .ior determin; ing. the operationv ofthe automatically-operable stop device;-- a-speed; controlling member movable to effect progressive sp eed variation; a-manual control for -movin g said member'to procure the desired speed; and automatic control means for moving said membenwithout interference with the manual. control-to effectfw) speed. reduction for one course, (byspe'e'd recliict'ion'for a predetermined plurality or courses, and; (0) reduction to a speed lower than either (a) or (bi 'andlafte'r each reduction, areturnto the speed set by, the

; manual control, wherein the automatic control means :is adapted to 'e'fiect' a gradual reduction from and. gradual return to the speed set by the manual control; and comprises a worm-driven member movable to and; no to 'efie'ct said gradual reduction and increase; a pair of simultaneously rotatableworms for coupling alternatively tothe worm-ohm memberto drive it in one direction or the other according to which worm is. coupled. to a it; and coupling means controllable by a patternin g devi-ce for effectingisaid alternativecoupling. v. J a 6 A combination according to claim 4; incorporating an automatically-operable stop device for stopping the machine, comprising a stop cam rotatable with the wormsfa member movable under the control thereof toa stopping position, ascatch. for preventing, movement ofthe last said member, andmeans'co'ntrollable by a pattern ing device for releasing the last" saidcatch. 7 7. Knitting. machine speedrregul'ating apparatus comprising? a 'member movable in onedirection' to effect a speed reduction and the reverse direction to restore the sneed, arotatable cam fordisplacing. said member-through a predetermined. amplitude to effect the speed reductionand restoration, means controllable by a patterningdevice for determining operative periods; of the cam, a worm- -driven member movable to; and fro the displacethe first: said member independently of the cam,vtwoworms rotatrotatable with the worms, a stop member movable under the control thereof to a machinestopping position, and a control member, movable under the control of a patterning device,

for (a) effecting the aforesaid alternative cou-;

pling and (b) determining the movement of the stop member.

8. For moving a speed controlling member of a knitting machine to and fro to reduce and increase the machine speed, the reduction being proportional to the extent of movement of said member in a speed-reducing direction, an automatic control unit comprising a member movable to and fro and adapted to be coupled to the first said member to move it, a rotatable cam shaft, a cam thereon for moving the second member to a predetermined extent in the speed-reducing direction, a followeron the second member for engaging the cam, a catch, controllable by a patterning device, for retaining the ment in one direction, a greater speed-reducing movement of the second member than is'caused by the cam, means,- controllable by a patterning device, for coupling the driven member to either of the worms to be shifted thereby in one direction or. the other according to the worm to which it is coupled, and a connection between the driven member and the second said member for moving the latter in one direction or the other according to the direction in which the driven member is shifted by a worm.

9. A unit according to'claim 8, having a part, movable under the control of a patterning device, for shogging the follower and for releasing the catch.

10. In a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, speed control apparatus comprising a manually movable member affording an infinitely variable speed control by the opersecond member in the extreme position to which it is moved by the cam, whereby according to the operation of the catch said, second member is displaced and returned during a revolution of the cam or is held in the displaced position for a predetermined period in excess of one revolu tion, means, controllable by a patterning device, for shogging the follower into and out of register with the cam to render the latter operative and inoperative as required, two worms of opposite spirality in the cam shaft, a worm-driven member movable to and fro for effecting, upon moveator, and automatic control means affording (a) an automatic speed reduction for one course for fashioning and a return to the speed originally obtaining; (b) an automatic speed reduction for i a given number of courses and a return tothe speed originally'prevailing; '(c) .an automatic reduction to a particularly low speed, to permit of automatic movements, and a return to the original speed; and (d) an automatic stoppage of the machine at a predetermined point in time, wherein the automatic control means is adapted to effect a gradual reduction from and gradual return to the speed set by the manual control,

and comprises a worm-driven member movable to and fro to effect said gradual reduction and increase; a pair of simultaneously rotatable worms for coupling alternatively to the wormdriven member to drive it in one direction or the other according to which worm is coupled to it; and coupling means controllable by a patterning device for effecting said alternative coupling.

GEORGE WILDERS.

JOHN EDWARD LYNAM, 

